OMG! First me, I got bit in Nov 2009 by a tick, then in Decemeber 2009 my one daughter had the erythema migrans rash and now test positive.
I brought my other daughter in to my PCP for complaints of tired legs and requested she be tested...guess what? CDC+ IGM through labcorp. SHe never had a tick bite or rash!
So in my family of 4, 3 of us are now CDC+ for lyme all in the course of less than 1 year.
What does that mean? Either it is spread through other vectors like mosquitos, or they got it from me! Seriously, could giving my children a good night kiss transmit lyme?
Just curious how many others have direct family members with signs/ symptoms or positive test. Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Keep kissing your little ones. You are not going to transmit lyme from a goodnight kiss. Although, I always think it's best to avoid lip to lip contact with little humans who are just the best carriers of the latest flu or cold. A kiss on the cheek with a good hug is just as loving.
Right now, it does not matter how others contracted this. It's the "no blame zone" and it should stay that way.
As you learn more, you may lean toward suspititions. (I've tried 6 ways and can't get that word right). But there is no way to know for sure.
It is very possible to have a tick bite and not know it. Mosquitoes carry lyme, too. Fleas also carry it. And, yes, it can be transmitted from mother to child - that is called gestational lyme (and some wonder if from father to child).
Still, at this point, what matters is getting good treatment and the best support plan.
Address your yard or learn about green spaces you frequent so as to minimize the risk but do not cut yourself or your kids off totally from nature. I would absolutely die if cut off from green spaces and trees around me. With awareness, that can be safe. -
Posted by kimmie (Member # 25547) on :
Thanks Keebler,
You always know just what to say. I am feeling like at this point just overwhelmed.
The only reason I had her tested was because she was complaining of her legs being tired. That is all. I figured she was the only one in the family left who has not been tested so I should persue it. But I really did not think she would show positive.
While talking to my husband about it, I noticed his arm muscles twitchng. He had tested negative in April. I just bought a rife machine and hooked him up to it to see if he gets a herx!
At this point I am just speechless. I cant help but wonder if I infected my whole family
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
My twin sister, my husband and all three of our children ages 17,9 and 7
Posted by jwall (Member # 22999) on :
My 4 year old son has it. My husband was just tested as he is showing symptoms. My 6 year old seems alright, but has some weird things happen - like a hospital stay for MRSA-like infection. It took 3 IV antibiotics to get rid of it for days. It's very overwhelming for me to think about.
Posted by kimmie (Member # 25547) on :
OMG! I am sorry ickyTicky and Jwall.
I just read that some LLMD's feel that the majority of the population carries Bb, but that is is a matter of genetics on whether you get sick with it. I wonder if that is true.
My husband has had over 50 tickbites in his childhood up NOrth and does not have lyme. I had one tick bite and that did me in.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- kimmie,
So much depends upon the strain of lyme and all the coinfections, too.
Well, I know it's hard but please stop wondering if YOU infected your whole family. They could have infected you. And - YOU would not have been the starting point. No one is. The vector is. And before them, an animal, etc. It's a long cycle.
Besides, often, tick and mosquito bites are something the whole family faces.
So, I continue to be shocked that more is not being done to address this at the base level. I am too tired for the right terms but, we all have been in the cross fires. Education now is what matters. Prevention where possible, treatment after the fact.
You will have so much to learn that holding onto guilt will just hold you back. So, if you do dwell on that, drop the guilt and look at it as a graph, a chain of events. YOU did not do this. It just happened. And we will all learn as we proceed.
Good luck. Take care. Nurture. -
Posted by tick battler (Member # 21113) on :
Sorry to hear you are dealing with this. It is very, very common for an entire family to get infected because you are in the same environment and have similar genes. Our yard was infested with ticks when we moved in and all 5 of us became sick with lyme and most of the coinfections. My husband never saw a tick. I think mosquitos are infecting us as well. The entire family of 4 next door to us is also infected.
tickbattler
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
kimmie, sorry to hear about your family. I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed.
ditto what tick battler said.
my daughter, husband and I all had the rash.
not my son. but he has bart rashes and air hunger.
i'm the only one who saw a tick.
we have a dog. but i won't even blame him although i'm sure he brings in ticks.
we got our bites in our yard, so i'm just blaming the ticks.
plenty of people never see a tick or a rash and test positive. i have 3 friends this happened to just this week!
blaming yourself isn't worth it. it doesn't get you anywhere, only exhausted and you can't afford any more of that.
we're here for you, kimmie.
Posted by jenn (Member # 21687) on :
First Me last summer ...still treating Then Hubby came down with symptoms...on abx my 11 year old daughter symptoms...on abx My mother symptoms....on abx my 7 year old treated 1x for tick bite Prophylactic treatment
NONE of us are CDC+, but have some bands
Posted by summer22 (Member # 27913) on :
Well for us lots of neighbors, friends and non-immediate family members.
You can get it from mosquitos??
Mosquitos are very very attracted to me for some reason and I always have lots of bites.
Now I am wondering...
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
My adult daughter and I are both infected and we never seen a rash or tick. I actually never seen a tick in my life until 15 years ago when one was attached to a girl that came over to visit my daughter.
That was the one and only tick I've ever seen.
Posted by momofthree (Member # 19490) on :
I have Lyme and Co infections and so do my three kids, 21, 20, 18 and my sister and her daughter and my nephew and my best friend and her sister and my daughter's best friend and her sister.
I think after I found out what I had that I was more in tune with what to look for so I noticed all these people with similar symptoms. All of these family members and friends tested pos. after I insisted they get the test.
I think we know what to look for in sick people that we never knew to look for before.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
My husband and I both have it. We don't have children because we thought for sure we would pass it along.
Posted by lymeladyinNY (Member # 10235) on :
My twin sister and her son have it. Two of my three sons show evidence of exposure based on IGeneX tests but no symptoms. My oldest brother is a veterinarian and has several symptoms of Lyme but refuses to consider the possibility.
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)